Congress Introduces Legislation to Ban Trade of Shark Fins in US

Days before Discovery Channel’s Shark Week, award-winning actor and longtime Oceana advocate Morgan Freeman joined Oceana and Members of Congress to announce the introduction of a new bill to ban the trade of shark fins in the United States. The bipartisan Shark Fin Trade Elimination Act of 2016 was introduced today by Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and Reps. Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (I-MP) and Ed Royce (R-CA). While the act of shark finning is illegal in U.S. waters, shark fins continue to be bought and sold throughout the United States.

“My fascination with science and nature was sparked by work with Discovery Science on ‘Through the Wormhole with Morgan Freeman,’ which inspired me to intensify my work to protect our planet’s inhabitants,” said Freeman. “Sharks are being killed for their fins, much like rhinos and elephants have been decimated due to the demand for their horns and tusks. While shark finning is banned in U.S. waters, we continue to buy, sell and trade shark fins throughout the country. By allowing the trade of shark fins within our borders, the U.S. continues to contribute to this global problem. The Shark Fin Trade Elimination Act would not only get the U.S. out of the shark fin trade business, but it would also reinforce the status of the United States as a leader in shark conservation.”

Oceana also released a new report today demonstrating why Congress needs to pass a federal ban on the buying and selling of shark fin products. The demand for shark fins is one of the greatest threats facing shark populations around the world. In fact, fins from as many as 73 million sharks end up in the global market every year.

According to the new report, a nationwide ban on the trade of shark fins would reduce the international fin trade, improve enforcement of the current finning ban, and send a message to other countries that the United States recognizes shark finning as a cruel process that should not be allowed to continue. To access Oceana’s full report and video, please visit www.oceana.org/FinBanNow.

“Shark finning is cruel and wasteful and it’s putting some shark species at risk of extinction. The United States rightly decided to ban the trade of ivory and rhino horns—yet we still import shark fins, which can be the result of an equally brutal practice,” said Lora Snyder, campaign director at Oceana. “To protect sharks, we need to end the demand for shark fins. Today, the United States took an important step towards achieving this. We applaud the leadership of the bill’s supporters today in helping to end the shark fin trade in the United States.”

Key findings from the report include:

More than 70 percent of the 14 most common shark species involved in the Hong Kong shark fin trade, the historic center of the global shark fin trade, are considered at high or very high risk of extinction.

Five of the 11 countries that export fins to the United States have no shark finning bans in place, making it very likely that fins coming into the U.S. are from sharks that have been finned.Shark watchers spend an estimated $314 million on shark ecotourism every year, and researchers expect that to double to $780 million in 20 years.

According to a recent study, sharks are the top species U.S. scuba divers want to see, and they will pay $35 extra per dive to see a shark.There are discrepancies in the estimates of the number of shark fins that are actually entering and leaving the United States. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), other countries reported exporting 1,012 metric tons of shark fins to the United States in 2007.

However, that same year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) only reported 28.8 metric tons of shark fin imports.In 2011, NOAA reported 38 metric tons of shark fin exports from the United States, yet according to the FAO, other countries reported importing 295 metric tons of shark fins from the United States.

“Right now, it is impossible to know if a shark fin in the United States is a product of finning. A national fin ban would remove that uncertainty and shut down the U.S. as a market for shark fins. It would also reinforce the status of the United States as a global leader in shark conservation,” said Snyder. “There’s no place for shark fins in the United States.”

Below are statements from several of the bill’s supporters:

“In 2011, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands was the first U.S. insular area to enact legislation banning the trade in shark fins,” said Representative Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, who represents the Marianas in the U.S. House of Representatives. “Today, 3 insular areas and 11 states have laws on the books to protect sharks. And we are now building on that local leadership by introducing national legislation to ban the buying and selling of shark fins throughout the United States.”

“Every year, it is estimated fins from as many as 70 million sharks end up in the global shark fin trade.” Sen. Booker said. “Shark finning is pushing some species of sharks to the brink of extinction. With this bipartisan measure, America can become a global leader by shutting down the domestic market for shark fins. Sharks play a pivotal role in marine ecosystems, and we must do more to protect them.”

“Shark finning, which leaves these animals to die a slow and painful death at the bottom of the ocean, is a cruel practice that needs to be stopped. When the United States leads, others follow. We should set an example by eliminating the shark fin trade rather than providing a market to incentivize this illicit activity,” said U.S. Representative Ed Royce (R-Calif.), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

“While the inhumane practice of shark finning is illegal in U.S. waters, it’s time for the U.S. to ban the importation and exportation of shark fins completely,” said Representative Farenthold (R-TX). “It’s great to stand with my colleagues, Oceana and Mr. Freeman to offer legislation that will end shark finning.”

“Cutting the fin off a shark is illegal in the United States, so there’s no reason to treat selling a shark fin as legal commerce,” said Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva, Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee. “Shark fins don’t fall off the back of a truck – they’re bought and sold after being illegally harvested. Tens of millions of sharks are dying every year because we allow the market for shark fins to keep operating. This bill uses the economic might of the United States to protect shark species and the ecosystems they keep in balance. I’m encouraged by the early support it’s getting from both sides of the aisle, and I sincerely hope we can put partisanship aside to get this done.”

Oceana would like to thank Sens. Richard Blumenthal, Maria Cantwell and John McCain as well as Reps. Earl Blumenauer, Madeleine Bordallo, Blake Farenthold, Raul Gijalva, Jared Huffman, John Katko, Patrick Meehan and Mike Thompson for being original co-sponsors of this legislation.

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The Green Living Guy, Seth Leitman is a green living expert, celebrity and Editor of the McGraw-Hill, TAB Green Guru Guides. Seth is also an Author, Radio Host, Reporter, Writer and a Environmental Consultant on green living. The Green Living Guy writes about green living, green lighting, the green guru guides and more. Seth's books range from:
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